From
the book "Family Histories of Canadian
County Oklahoma", (CCHBA, 1987)

John
William Palmer was born Nov. 1, 1901 to Elvira Estella
Mayfield and Winfield Scott Palmer in a dugout on his
parents' farm located 9 miles north and 4 ½ miles east
of El Reno, the 8th child of 10 children. His father died
when John was 16. The 10 Palmer children were students at
Liberty School.

John married Ruby
Heckes, daughter of Fred and Mary Todd Heckes, Jan. 3,
1926. They farmed the "home place" (Winfield
Palmer's) until John's mother died. John bought two 80's
one mile east of the Palmer farm. They moved to a farm
located in the same quarter section as the Racine School.
In the early years of their marriage, his brother,
Herbert, a student at Edmond, lived with them one year.
Later, he served 2 terms as State Representative.

John was Chairman of the Board of the Okarche
Coop for 20 years. He and his family were members of the
Mt. Zion Church. John liked people and enjoyed visiting
with them. He was full of fun and enjoyed a good laugh.
When his daughters were small, he often brought home
candy for them. The girls woke up in the morning
discussing whose turn it would be to dividie the candy or
go for the mail. Their rural mail carrier was Mr.
Nickerson. If he was ill, his wife delivered the mail. In
the summer's heat, the girls walked barefoot to the road
to wait for the mail carrier. John continued to bring
gifts to his daughters, even as they became older. Once
at a cattle auction, someone was selling fringed
table clothes and he bough one for each daughter.

John always looked forward to riding his horse
in the 89er parade. He had a favorite red satin western
shirt and hat for these occasions. He still owned a lap
robe purchased for his buggy from a mail order catalog
when he was a young, single man. It was of a heavy,
horsehair-like material. The black, rubber lining made it
waterproof. The color of the outside material was gold
with a bird dog in the center. The dog's eye was a clear
glass with a black pupil.

John and Ruby moved from their farm to El Reno
in November 1955 and built a home at 1500 W. Walnut St.
They joined the Wesley United Methodist Church.

John William Palmer, a life-long resident of
Canadian County, died in El Reno July 27, 1973, and is
buried in El Reno Cemetery.

From
the book "Family Histories of Canadian
County Oklahoma", (CCHBA, 1987)

Winfield
Scott Palmer was born Feb. 26, 1862 in Felicity, Ohio to
Jonathan Palmer and Mary Elizabeth McKibben. His father
was an atorney from Noble Co., Illinois. His mother was
one of 6 children born to Joseph and Ann Linn McKibben.
Winfield's pathernal great-grandparents were Joseph and
and Mary McKibben of Helena, Ky. Winfield's great-grandfather
was born in Northern Ireland. After coming to America, he
served as lieutenant in the Revolutionary War for the
Cumberland Co., PA militia.

Winfield
married Elvira Estella Mayfield in Neal, Kansas Sept. 26,
1886. They came to Oklahoma Territory Jan. 2, 1890 with
their 2 oldest children and settled on a farm northeast
of El Reno. While their children were still small, Elvira
Palmer's mother, Grandma Burke, a widow, came to live
with them.

Ralph James born Aug. 15, 1891, married Helen
Gramkow. They had 5 children: Gordon Wayne born 1919;
Maxine born 1923; James Potter born May 18, 1927; Eileen
born April 25, 1932; and Patricia Ann born Sept. 19, 1934.

Dora Ethel born March 17, 1895 married Ralph
Geoffrey. They had 3 children, Evelyn Elvira, Edward, and
Shirley.

Flora Ester born Jan. 10, 1898 married Hal
Calhoun (Pat) Wilkerson. They had 2 children, John and
Ella Mae.

Katheryn Margaret born Jan. 10, 1900 married
Mervil Henry Stine. They had one son, Wibur Stine.

John William born Nov. 1, 1901 married Ruby
Heckes (see next story).

Gertrude born May 16, 1903 died in 1948 and is
buried in tthe Palmer Cemetery.

Herbert M. Born April 20, 1906, died March 20,
1972. He is buried in the Palmer Cemetery. He has lived
in the Washington D.C. Are since 1937. He served in the
State Legislature 1931-1935. He served in the U.S. Coast
Guard during W.W. II. Following discharge, he recived a
law degree from Cuberland University in Lebanon, Tenn.,
and was employed by the Dept. Of Commerce. He wwas a 32
year member of the Chevy Chase Masonic Lodge.

Winfield Scott died in 1918 and is buried in
the Palmer Cemetery. His wife, Elvira Estella Mayfield
Palmer died Nov. 2, 1925 and is buried beside him. They
were 2 of the pioneers of Canadian County.

From the book
"Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland,
Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois"

Charles
Edward Palmer

Having been born and
reared in Noble township, Riceland County, Illinois, and
since reaching manhood's estate identified with some of
the most important business interests if that community,
it is not strange that Charles Edward Palmer should be
widely and favourably know within the confines of the
territory in question. His career has been marked with
success at almost every turn, and he certainly is an
example worthy of emulation by the young men of today,
who would embark upon the sea of commercialization.
Perseverance coupled with energy and brains has placed
him in an enviable position in the business world.

Charles Edward Palmer was born in Noble
township, October 14, 1859. His father was James F.
Palmer, born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1829, while the
mother was Maria C. Danbury, also a native of the Buckeye
state, having been born there in 1833. Their deaths were
not far apart, the husband passing away in 1893, and the
wife and mother two years later. The father of the
subject was a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute
of Cincinnati, and in 1856, rode horseback from Ohio to
his future home in Noble township. His wife followed a
year afterwards on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern
Railroad, which had just been completed. The grandfather
of the subject was a soldier in the War of 1812; his
paternal grandmother was a niece of the Revolutionary
General Stark, while his uncle, Jacob A. Palmer, did
valiant service throughout the Civil war.

Mr. Palmer was educated in the public schools,
and when quite young began to read to read law. Later he
entered the insurance business, and also took part in
politics, finally being elected Supervisor of Noble
township. While discharging the duties of his office he
was instrumental in having the county board appoint an
expert accountant to check up the accounts of the county
officers. He eventually became an expert accountant
himself, and investigated the books of other counties,
serving in that capacity for eight years. In 1899 he
conceived and organized the mercantile firm of Palmer
& Company, and this concern has forged to the front
with remarkable rapidity, carrying an immense stock of
dry goods, furniture, stoves, hardware and agricultural
implements. In connection with this concern the firm
operates a concrete block factory, and an evaporator. Mr.
Palmer is the president and general manager of the
establishment, and is also vice-president of the bank of
Noble. He was wedded in 1882 to Mollie U. Philhower, and
this alliance resulted in the birth of two children, one
of whom died when quite young. The other, Beulah May
Palmer, became the wife of a prominent contractor of
Olney, Illinois.

Mr. Palmer is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, Red Man,
and a member of the Modern Woodsmen of America. He has
for years been more or less prominent in politics, being
an adherent of the Independent party. When the Spanish-American
war broke out he raised a company, and was made captain
thereof. They reported to Colonel Pittenger, at
Centralia, and the company, although placed on the list,
was never called out.

From the book
"Biographical Sketches of Richland, Jasper &
Effingham Counties"

J.F.
Palmer, M.D. Was born in Neville, Cleremont Co., Ohio
February 9, 1829, and is the sixth of the eleven children
of Jacob and Polly (Stark) Palmer, natives of New York.
Jacob Palmer was a physician and came to Ohio in 1817,
removed to Riceland County, Ill., in 1866, and died in
1876, aged eighty-five. Our subject received such
advantages of instruction as the schools of that day
afforded, and began reading medicine in 1852, under Dr.
Weaver, of high repute in Brown County, Ohio, and
graduated there in 1868, having practised some years
previously. He first practised in Ohio, then came to
Noble, Riceland Co., Ill., August, 1856, where he has
since remained, and is the oldest physician and surgeon
in this region, being now associated with his son Dr. E.L.
Palmer, who attended three terms at McKendrie College,
and graduated from the Eclectic Medical College of
Cincinnati, in 1877, a native of Ohio, born July 13, 1855,
and, in 1881, in Saint Louis, married Miss Mary E.
Flanders. Dr. J. F. Palmer, married Miss M. C. Dunsbury,
a native of Ohio, October 23, 1853, a union to which were
born four children - E.L., Charles E., Lillie M. And
Franklin E. (deceased). Our subject has been Trustee of
the township for the past twenty-three years, and for the
first twelve years after the incorporation of the town.

From the book
"Biographical Sketches of Richland, Jasper &
Effingham Counties"

Charles
E. Palmer, counselor-at-law, is a native of this
township, was born October 14, 1859, and is a son of J.F.
And M.C. Palmer. His early education was obtained at the
common schools, which he attended until the year 1879,
which gave him the advantage of a good education. In the
autumn of 1881, he made a visit to California, and
remained there until the spring of 1882, where he was
engaged in various employment's, a portion of the time
being in a drug store. After his return from California,
he was elected Township Assessor on the Republican
ticket, having to overcome a Democratic majority of
forty, which bespeaks his popularity. On his twenty-first
birth day he was made a Mason, and is at present
secretary of his Lodge, No. 362; he is also a member of
the I.O.O.F. In May, 1883, he married Miss Mollie
Philhower, a daughter of J.B. Philhower, by which union
he became the father of one child, Beulah M.